Natalie's Everyday Heroes: Sisters share breast cancer journey

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Komen Wisconsin's More Than Pink Walk is coming up on Sunday, Sept. 28.

It's a chance to come together to connect and raise live-saving funds for the fight against breast cancer. 

This year's honorary chairs are breast cancer survivors and family: two sisters who were diagnosed with breast cancer just two weeks apart. 

"We have a walking trail around here," said Jamie Boettcher, setting off on a walk with her sister, Tami Salawater.

"We are very similar, her and I," Salawater said.

And they are similar, like a lot of sisters are. 

"And we tend to think a lot alike and say things alike," Salawater said.

They have one thing in common, though, that neither expected. 

"Oh man. It was heartbreaking," Salawater said of a time nearly two years ago.

In October of 2023, Tami was diagnosed with breast cancer. 

"I'm older than her. And when I reached out to her to tell her I had breast cancer, she was overdue for her mammogram," she said.

"I knew that I was late, but it really wasn't a priority," Boettcher said.

Her sister's diagnosis changed that, and two weeks later, Jamie got her mammogram.

"I was pretty shocked to find out that I, too, had breast cancer," she said.

From there, the sisters set off on their breast cancer journeys together. 

"So, it was helpful to have each other when a lot of women don't have anybody. And we had each other going through the exact same thing," Salawater said.

This year, they're teaming up as honorary chairs of the Komen Wisconsin More Than Pink Walk. 

It's an event they've supported for years, in honor of their mom, who passed away from breast cancer in 2005.

"Jamie had the same type as our mom which was the triple negative. I had the HER2+," Salawater said.

Supporting the community and the research Komen provides taking on even more meaning now. 

"When I initially was diagnosed, I missed a lot of work, so I benefitted from the grant from Komen to help me just not fall completely behind, having to take so much time off of work," Salawater said.

"The More Than Pink slogan is really appropriate because they really are so much more than just the pink ribbon," Boettcher said.

They'll be taking steps to help Komen get to the final finish line-- a world without breast cancer. 

Thankful for the treatment they both received. 

"Every day it gets a little better. Every day it's more in the back of my mind," Salawater said.

Jamie and Tami are both doing well now. Neither carries the genes that can increase your risk of breast cancer.

The Komen More Than Pink Walk is this Sunday, Sept. 28 at Henry Maier Festival Park. CBS 58 once again a proud sponsor. For more information on the walk and how you can help, visit Susan G. Komen® - 2025 Komen Wisconsin MORE THAN PINK Walk.

If you'd like to nominate an Everyday Hero, send Natalie a message at [email protected].